Calcium too high?

carb850

carb850

New member
Well, I find myself in an interesting predicament. My API test kit has been showing my calcium level at about 520. Since I'm only supplementing Calcium through Kalk in my ATO I didn't think that could be an accurate reading. Just by happenstance, I noticed the sand in my 30G is trying to setup like concrete! Luckily, I think I got it all loosened except what sand is beneath my rocks. Anyhow, I guuess my Ca might be that high after all.

I can only think of one real solutions, that is to stop using my Kalk Reactor. I'm only reluctant to do that because I have a long run from my reactor to my sump. So to do this I would need to run a complete separate line to hook into my Osmolator directly. Any other suggestions here?


Also, my other thought is that I have a rare opportunity here. How many people fight low Calcium and I find mine really high. Anything a calcium hog more so than SPS? I don't suppose my half dozen small frags are using much currently.
 
There is an algae, it looks like a series of coins end to end, I cannot remember the name, but foster and smith sells it. HUGE calcium hog.
 
pH - 8.4 (AP)
DKH - 9.9 (Salifert)
Ca - 520 (AP)

Actually, it looks like the Halimeda might be what I'm looking for. From what little I read it doesn't overtake your tank and should be easily uprooted once my tank has a higher CA demand. I'll have to make sure of that first though because I don't want to unleash something that I cannot control. I already read that hardly any fish will eat it.
 
My pH and DKH are pretty good though, right? I'm going to be doing a water change in the next day or two, I'm going to check my mix for it's CA level and recheck the tank afterwords.
 
How do calcium and dkh relate? I didn't know a dkh level would change what is ideal levels of calcium.
 
never hurts to test the baseline... i think checking the salt mix is a good prelim step..

for the ph / dkh numbers, i was hoping for a good/high/low... i dont actually recall what 'good' number are for those.. its been over a year, maybe 18 months since i checked any of them my self.... all i know for sure is ph dissolves the calc so it can get into the tank..

by "know for sure" i mean, "i believe, so dont hold me to it."

liveaquaria says ph needs to be around 6.5 to media to dissolve efficiently.

i cant see adding co2 to your tank, that seems weird... and i dont think water dwell has any particular issue.. (things that matter in a reactor for 200 alex)

from what i can tell, your just going to have to drop a couple grand on hard corals this week to save your tank.. dont ya hate when that happens.. :icrackmeup:
 
Thanks for the info guys. Since I'm already due for a water change I'm going to start with it and remeasure, but if I'm still out of wack I will be following the steps outlined in those links.

I'm surprised that my Calcium is too high when I'm only using kalkwasser with my top off water.
 
Your tank has probably not been using it up. Or your starting with a salt that is high with alk and cal and the kalk is just keeping them high. I would just stop running kalk until levels fell back off.
 
I sold my Kalk reactor because mine was all balanced but was in the high 600 low 700 all the time. just to much with calcium reactor and everything else going on.
 
I did a 20G water change earlier this week. New readings.

Calcium 520
Alk 8.4

I'll be looking into the specifics of the baking soda to raise my Alk.
 
carb850 said:
I'm going to check my mix for it's CA level and recheck the tank afterwords.
Click to expand...
Well did ya? :D
What salt mix are you using?


carb850 said:
I did a 20G water change earlier this week. New readings.

Calcium 520
Alk 8.4

I'll be looking into the specifics of the baking soda to raise my Alk.
Click to expand...
Are you still running the Kalk reactor? If so it's strange your alk dropped that much.
To bump your alk use JD's reef chemistry calculator

fwiw I tested the new tank this week. Set up ~ a month ago and I've done 2 10g water changes, no dosing...
Alk 7.04 :eek: and Ca 390. (Both measured with Salifert)
Kinda surprised me since IO usually mixes to ~11 DKH out of the box. I should be doing a water change tomorrow and plan to check the mix.
 
I completely forgot to check my newly made water. It wasn't until an hour after completion did it dawn on me. Do'h!

I unhooked the Kalk reactor about a week ago and hasn't been online since. Oh, I'm using Reef Crystals.

I'll dig into the chemistry calc, thanks.
 
fwiw
Your alk is really OK. Depending on who you read 7-11 or 8-12 is the recommended range for alkalinity.
I usually target ~9 in case my test kit is slightly off or I forget to dose for a few days. Also 8-9 DKH are NSW levels.

RC starting values use to be ~11dkh and I think 420-440 for Ca. I've heard the mix for IO and RC changed with the new packaging but I haven't read much about the new numbers.
 
Alk is now down to 7.2 and Calcium is still in the 500-520 range. Going to be shopping for baking soda this weekend.

What should I shoot for, about 10dkh?
 
Thanks for the help everyone. My Alk made it down to 6.7 before I finally started dosing some Baking soda. Over a few days I'm up to 9.4 dKH and running 480 Ca, this is without the use of Kalk. I added another couple teaspoons tonight hoping to get around 10.0 dKH.

Maybe a clam and a dozen more SPS frags might help with the CA uptake so I can restart my Kalk reactor. :)
 
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